User configurable stackable display

ABSTRACT

A user-configurable display is provided. The display has shelves that can be variable in length with shelf ends that fit within corner pieces. The corner pieces can be arcuate-shaped, T-shaped, and cross-shaped. A locking mechanism such as a cam engages each shelf end such that the shelves are engaged to the corner pieces. A cover piece covers the corner pieces and hides the locking mechanism from view. Each shelf end will fit into the lips of the corner pieces and has one or more bores for receiving a cam bolt that engages the cams. A shelf end may include a raised section that fits within the lips of the corner pieces.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/663,343, filed Mar. 18, 2005, the teachings anddisclosure of which are hereby incorporated in their entireties byreference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to displays, and more generally tostackable display shelves.

BACKGROUND

Office and home users use display shelves for a variety of purposes. Awide variety of such products are available, including shelves, racks,baskets, and like arrangements, which facilitate convenient storage ofarticles where desired. Displays for storing and merchandising amultiplicity of products having shelves which are vertically stackablyarranged in spaced relationship one above the other are known. Althoughthe known constructions have attempted to provide a connection betweenthe shelf members and the upright support members which is durable, lesssusceptible to wear, and more stable, such prior art constructions stillsuffer from certain disadvantages and shortcomings. For example, all ofthe features associated with the known prior art constructions have madesuch units overly complex, expensive to manufacture, require a largenumber of parts and/or components to assemble which is both inconvenientand time consuming. Additionally, known prior art is limited in that thedisplay shelves are fixed in length and/or width.

There also exists a need and demand for an economical display unit whichnot only permits the spaced apart vertical stacking of one shelf memberabove the other, but also has modular capability in that it permitsadjacent units to be arranged in side-by-side relationship in anydesired modular configuration.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Provided is a user-configurable display which can be both vertically andhorizontally arranged to achieve any desired arrangement. In one aspect,the invention provides a display that has shelves that can be variablein length with shelf ends that fit within corner pieces. The cornerpieces can be curve-shaped, T-shaped, and cross-shaped. A lockingmechanism such as a cam engages each shelf end such that the shelves areengaged to the corner pieces. A cover piece covers the corner pieces andhides the locking mechanism from view. Each shelf end includes a raisedsection that fits within lips of the corner pieces and one or more boresfor receiving a cam bolt that engages the cams.

Each corner piece consists of a shaped material having a plurality ofbores along a length of the material with a plurality of slots. Each ofthe plurality of slots is connected to one of the bores and has lips forreceiving one of the shelf ends between the lips.

Each shelf end includes a raised section that fits within lips of thecorner pieces. When the locking mechanism is a cam, each shelf furthercomprises at least one cam bolt on each shelf end for engaging the cam.

Other aspects and advantages will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1 a-1 k are views of various displays that can be constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a is an isometric view of a single corner piece with a cover inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 b is a cross-sectional view of the corner piece of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 3 a is an isometric view of a T-shaped corner piece with a cover inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 3 b is a cross-sectional view of the corner piece of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 4 a is an isometric view of a +-shaped corner piece with a cover inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 4 b is a cross-sectional view of the corner piece of FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a shelf piece in accordance with theteachings of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a different shelf piece in accordancewith the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a display in accordance with theteachings of the present invention;

FIG. 8 a is a top view of a shelf piece in accordance with the teachingsof the present invention;

FIG. 8 b is a side view of the shelf piece of FIG. 8 a along the widthof the shelf piece;

FIG. 8 c is a front view of the shelf piece of FIG. 8 a along the lengthof the shelf piece;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a corner piece being installed on a shelfpiece in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of the corner piece of FIG. 9 installed onthe shelf piece of FIG. 9 in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the corner piece of FIG. 9 locked in placeto the shelf piece of FIG. 9 with a cam in accordance with the teachingsof the present invention;

FIG. 12 a is an isometric view of the cam of FIG. 11 in accordance withthe teachings of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 b is a side view of the cam of FIG. 12 a.

While the invention will be described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to thoseembodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives,modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeelements, the user-configurable stackable display can be configured in avariety of heights, widths, and lengths. For example, FIGS. 1(a)-1(k)provide an example of the different shapes that can be made usingvarious corner pieces 100, 104, 108 with end pieces 102, 106, 110 andvarious shelf pieces 112, 114. While two shelf pieces 110, 112 areshown, the shelf pieces can be configured to be any length. In thedescription that follows, shelf pieces 112, 114 shall be used todescribe the user-configurable display shelf. The corner pieces 100,104, 108 may be made of various materials, including plastic, aluminum,steel, etc. The shelf pieces 112, 114 can be of any material, includingwood, plastic, metal, glass, fiberboard such as MDF (medium densityfiberboard) with a wood skin, and the like.

The end pieces 102, 106, 112 are typically made of the same material asa corner piece, but could be made from other materials. For example, ifthe corner piece is aluminum, the end pieces can be aluminum, plastic,wood, etc. The shelves 112, 114, corner pieces 100, 104, 108, and endpieces 102, 106, 110 may be any color. For example, the color of thecorner pieces and end pieces can be gold, silver, white, black, etc.Similarly, the sides may be clear or stained, painted, or varnished inany color.

Turning to FIGS. 2 a-2 b in conjunction with FIG. 7, one style of cornerpiece is a curved corner piece 100 that is covered by end cap(s) 102.The curved corner piece 100 is used for outside corners of the display.The curved corner piece 100 has slots 118 for receiving shelf 112, 114.The slots 118 have lips 120 for receiving shelves 112, 114. The slots118 also have grooves 122 for receiving shelves that have a tongue and abore 124 for receiving a cam 200 (see FIG. 12). The bore 124 has aseries of ridges 126 for helping to hold the cam 200 in place asdescribed hereinbelow. The curved corner piece 100 may have sections128, 130 of material removed to cut down on weight and/or reduce cost.

Turning to FIGS. 3 a-3 b in conjunction with FIG. 7, another style ofcorner piece is a T-shaped corner piece 104 that is covered by endcap(s) 106. The T-shaped corner piece 104 is used for inner connectionsof shelves 112, 114 of the display. The T-shaped corner piece 104 alsohas slots 118 for receiving shelf 112, 114. The slots 118 have lips 120for receiving shelves 112, 114. The slots 118 also have grooves 122 forreceiving shelves that have a tongue and a bore 124 for receiving a cam200. The bore 124 has a series of ridges 126 for helping to hold the cam200 in place as described hereinbelow. The T-shaped corner piece 104 mayhave sections 132, 134, 136 of material removed to cut down on weightand/or reduce cost.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 a-4 b in conjunction with FIG. 7, another styleof corner piece is a cross shaped corner piece 108 that is covered byend cap(s) 110. The cross shaped corner piece 108 is used for innerconnections of shelves 112, 114 of the display where four shelves arejoined. The cross shaped corner piece 108 also has slots 118 that havelips 120 for receiving shelves 112, 114. The slots 118 also have grooves122 for receiving shelves that have a tongue and a bore 124 forreceiving a cam 200. The bore 124 has a series of ridges 126 for helpingto hold the cam 200 in place as described hereinbelow. The cross shapedcorner piece 108 may have sections 138, 140 of material removed to cutdown on weight and/or reduce cost.

Turning now to FIGS. 8 a-8 c, the shelves 112, 114 can have any length Lor width W. The length of the corner pieces 100, 104, 108 match thewidth W dimension of the shelves 112, 114. In one embodiment, each end150 of the shelves 112, 114 has a raised section 152 in the center thatfits within the lips 120. The outer sections 154 of each shelf 112, 114have a bore 156 that may have threads. The bore 156 receives cam bolt158 that is used to help hold shelves 112, 114 in place.

Turning now to FIGS. 9-11, a display is made by connecting the cornerpieces 100, 104, 108 to the ends of the shelves 112, 114 such that shelfend 150 or the raised sections 152 fit within the lips 120. A guide (notshown) may be used on the ends 150 (or the raised sections 152) andcorner pieces 100, 104, 108 to center the corner pieces 100, 104, 108 inrelation to the shelves 112, 114. Once the shelf 112, 114 is in place, acam 200 is put over each cam bolt 158 and locked by turning the cam 200with a screwdriver and the like. The series of ridges 126 in the bores124 match the ridges on the cam 200 and help keep the cam 200 in place.Note that other locking mechanisms may be used such as a slide wedge,etc.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

1. A user-configurable display comprising: a plurality of corner pieceshaving corner piece ends; a plurality of shelves having shelf ends, eachshelf end inserted into one of the plurality of corner pieces; at leastone locking mechanism engaging each shelf end to the one of theplurality of the corner pieces within the one of the plurality of cornerpieces such that each shelf end is engaged to the one of the pluralityof the corner pieces; and a plurality of covers covering the cornerpiece ends such that the at least one locking mechanism is hidden fromview.
 2. The user-configurable display of claim 1 wherein the pluralityof corner pieces includes a plurality of curved corner pieces.
 3. Theuser-configurable display of claim 2 wherein each curved corner piececomprises an arcuate shaped material having a plurality of bores along alength of the material, the arcuate shaped material having a pluralityof slots, each of the plurality of slots connected to one of theplurality of bores, each slot having lips for receiving one of the shelfends between the lips.
 4. The user-configurable display of claim 3wherein each of the plurality of slots have grooves for receiving shelfends that have a tongue.
 5. The user-configurable display of claim 1wherein the plurality of corner pieces includes a plurality of T-shapedcorner pieces.
 6. The user-configurable display of claim 5 wherein eachT-shaped corner piece comprises a T-shaped material having a pluralityof bores along a length of the material, the T-shaped material having aplurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots connected to one ofthe plurality of bores, each slot having lips for receiving one of theshelf ends between the lips.
 7. The user-configurable display of claim 6wherein each of the plurality of slots have grooves for receiving shelfends that have a tongue.
 8. The user-configurable display of claim 1wherein the plurality of corner pieces includes a plurality ofcross-shaped corner pieces.
 9. The user-configurable display of claim 8wherein each cross corner piece comprises a cross shaped material havinga plurality of bores along a length of the material, the cross shapedmaterial having a plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slotsconnected to one of the plurality of bores, each slot having lips forreceiving one of the shelf ends between the lips.
 10. Theuser-configurable display of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality ofslots have grooves for receiving shelf ends that have a tongue.
 11. Theuser-configurable display of claim 1 wherein the plurality of shelvesincludes a first set of shelves having a first length and a second setof shelves having a second length.
 12. The user-configurable display ofclaim 1 wherein the locking mechanism is a cam and wherein each shelffurther comprises at least one cam bolt on each shelf end for engagingthe cam.
 13. The user-configurable display of claim 1 wherein each shelfend includes a raised section that fits within lips of the cornerpieces.
 14. The user-configurable display of claim 13 wherein each shelfend further includes at least one bore for receiving a cam bolt.
 15. Auser-configurable display comprising: a plurality of corner pieceshaving lips; a plurality of shelves having shelf ends, each shelf endinserted into one of the lips of the plurality of corner pieces; aplurality of cam locking mechanisms engaging each shelf end in theplurality of the corner pieces such that each shelf end is engaged toone of the plurality of the corner pieces; and a plurality of coverscovering the corner piece ends such that the plurality of cam lockingmechanisms is hidden from view.
 16. The user-configurable display ofclaim 15 wherein the plurality of corner pieces are one of aluminum andplastic.
 17. The user-configurable display of claim 15 wherein theplurality of corner pieces include an arcuate corner piece, a T-shapedcorner piece, and a cross-shaped corner piece.
 18. The user-configurabledisplay of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of corner piecescomprises a material having a plurality of bores along a length of thematerial, the material having a plurality of slots therein, each of theplurality of slots connected to one of the plurality of bores, each slothaving the lips for receiving one of the shelf ends.
 19. Theuser-configurable display of claim 15 wherein each shelf furthercomprises at least one cam bolt on each shelf end for engaging one ofthe cam locking mechanism.
 20. The user-configurable display of claim 15wherein each shelf end includes a raised section that fits within lipsof the corner pieces.